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So, I hadn't been planning to go see this one, to save money, but I had to go into Tokyo today to pick some things up. So I compromised and made a deal with myself: if there were tachimi left, I'd get one. I went in at 2 PM and sauntered up to the ticket window. There were still B-seki and an S-seki left, so they weren't selling tachimi. I ran my errands, came back at 3 PM, and got a tachimi, possibly terrifying the box office staff by my fist pump when she told me they had sold out all of the regular seats.

I've never gone into the theater so early, but they had already opened the house. I think I was the first one in, actually, as everyone else side-tracked to the bathroom and the omiyage counters, which was a bit daunting, being stared at by ALL of the ushers. XD

Quick-quick review, because it's late and I have to work tomorrow (yuck).

Autumn Dance

I'm very glad I could see Autumn Dance, as I had been wanting to see a Japanese revue for a long time, and Kaze no Nishiki-e does NOT count. The costumes were lovely, the sets were lovely, and the dancing was lovely. Matsumoto-sensei was, as always, perfect. I did have a heart-in-throat moment when she was navigating that staircase, though, since she dances without her glasses. If you knew to look you could see her pause at the top and bottom and surreptitiously feel with her foot to make sure she had counted correctly before moving on.

No one told me there were NINJA! (I suppose this is my own fault for tending to avoid spoilers, but I would have made more of an effort to see the show if I had known.) That scene with the ladies of the night behind their windows and the ninja was just awesome in more ways than I can tell. The pole and the swords and the ladders♥ (Although, my one complaint is that while the sword dancing was lovely, the sword fighting was a bit lacking. I suppose I've gotten spoiled, measuring everything by Hamlet standards.)

Matsumoto-sensei and Suzumi Shio's dance was amazing.

I also liked Ouki Kaname and the otokoyaku with their straw hats. Yumeno Seika♥

It's been so long since I saw Hoshigumi that I had to keep doing double-takes every time I opera-glassed Kurenai Yuzuru. Yuzurun has grown up!

I loved the falling leaves♥ Autumn is my favorite season♥

.... Now I really want to watch Yume no Ukihashi again.

An Officer and a Gentleman

Somehow, despite being amused that Takarazuka was doing this adaption, and despite the sexy short haircuts, it never really called out to me. Even after watching it and genuinely enjoying many of the scenes, it hasn't gripped me.

A fun show, that they worked hard to make into a good Takarazuka-style show with lots of roles for everyone, but with a storyline that suffered a bit as a result. But we can't have everything. Depending on which kind of show you favor, this may be the show for you!

It's been nearly three years since I reviewed "Who Is Bad?", and I knew from the show description, from the cast, and from clips I've seen on various Sky Stage programs that I'd love "Passion Blue", but.... I've never been able to find the VHS in Taka-An. Bad luck, hey? But they finally re-broadcast it last October, so-!

It reminds me thematically of revue shows like "La Bolero Rouge" (another of Miki-Sensei's) and "Blue Moon Blue", but with more primitive costumes. So, a few years before its time, I suppose? Anyway, let's just say that it is indeed in my top ten revue shows, ever. I can't resist Mariko, Rika, and Wataru all dancing together on one stage, and when you throw in my adored combi of Mariko/Ayaka, plus Emao Yuu, Ayaki Nao, Otowa Ryou, and all the other young stars it's impossible to resist. (I enjoy playing spot-the-MatobuSei and spot-the-AsazumiKei, and spot-the-KuonMaya.)

Especially when Rika and Wataru (ken-8! so cute!) are dance-fighting over Tomo Maika in suits and fedoras.

Or Mariko and Rika are dancing together as gypsies♥

Or SO MANY HOT MARIKO/AYAKA PAIR DANCES ngbrkilhbgrbkbj!!!

Let's just say it pushes all of my revue buttons. Even the line dance was entertaining. ;)

...I love Hoshigumi. I probably follow more of its young otokoyaku stars right now than any other troupe. I thought the principles did a solid, entertaining job. But I couldn't help leaving the theater wishing that I could have this script and Hanagumi's cast. *sigh*

Still, if you're thinking of buying one of the versions and have no preferences either way, I think I'd have to recommend ver.II. The script didn't make me hit myself in the forehead multiple times, and the videos were cool. ;)

Much love to Anna for agreeing to do this with me, even though she was terrified of it.<3 I hope she'll forgive me for posting it while she's sleeping, but this is the point in my week where I actually have time to breathe *grin*. I did the odds and she did the evens. I hope everyone enjoys it -- I think the warmth of hoshigumi is a wonderful thing, and it really shows here.... even if they do tease poor Kazu too much.

Okay, I'm going to do this properly. I kept waiting for that next time I saw the show, and the next time never happened, and it looks like it'll be a long while before I see the DVD, so... forgive me my opinions and huge blank spaces, I haven't had another shot at things I wanted to double-check.

Going into it I really had no idea what the show was about. I think about a week before I saw it was when someone kindly told me that a pimpernel was a flower, not a bird. Yes. So now you know where I was coming from.

.... So, overall? PERFECT show for Hoshigumi. A good show for Takarazuka in that there are lots and lots of minor parts to stick all the stars in, with a decent amount of stage time, and more get a chance to develop personality than in a lot of shows. Some great, funny moments, some very good songs, some kick-ass staging, some lovely costumes.... It really doesn't get better than this. Just... if you have a Javert fetish, beware. You may find yourself latching on to Chauvelin, and you may forget the other 90% of the show.....

Overall, I though it was a clever adaption, with some scenes in particular that really stood out. I had to watch it broken up over the course of a week because of time problems, so I don't know if it would have held my attention as well in one stretch.

Jubilation!

What I Thought:

I actually really liked this show. It's the kind of mid-90s show that I enjoy. Aside from a few bizarre background sets (Giant legs? Hands?), and one set of costumes, they got away nearly unscathed. The theme song was virally catchy, and I think more shows should have pompoms for their shanshan. Highlights include Mariko and Tsukikage Hitomi dancing on a huge, revolving roulette wheel, and the "Channel Wars" number with Maori Yuki and Emao Yuu as adorable kids, Hacchi-san as a rather lecherous host of a TV shopping network with Mari Yuzumi as his cat-suited side-kick, and Izumo Aya as Lucy on a cooking network. I also really liked a lot of the music in the Southpole numbers. There was also lots of Maori Yuki love again. <3

This was actually one of the first Bow Hall shows that I actually saw, a couple of years ago, when a friend loaned it to me. Although there were a few actresses and bits that got my attention, overall I was underwhelmed. Now I've finally had a chance to watch it again to write up a summary for the wiki....

There is a new Ema Naoki community on mixi. And the owner is super-energetic and actually messaged a bunch of people who had Junko mentioned in their profiles (including me) to let us know. *g* So go join, o ye hordes of fans! Support Junko II!

Also, I think I made this offer before, but maybe not on this journal. So let me know if you want a mixi invite. Er, but it's a bit tough to navigate without some basic Japanese, so you'll probably want to know some.

Also. Urgh. Why I don't buy photos off of yahoo!auctions Japan, reason #3: It's just not worth it. Three photos for 1300 yen is outrageous to start with. Add on 400 in fees from Crescent, 200 in fees for the bank transfer, 250 for shipping within Japan.... and I still don't know how much it's going to cost me to get it from Japan to the US, but if Crescent attempts to wrap them in bubble wrap in a box I might do something nasty and unforgivable.

I'm going home to drink a beer.

PS - I cannot believe pregnant!Mami screencaps didn't elicit one squeal of outrage or amusement. You all must be as lazy about commenting as I am these days. ;p

There is a new Ema Naoki community on mixi. And the owner is super-energetic and actually messaged a bunch of people who had Junko mentioned in their profiles (including me) to let us know. *g* So go join, o ye hordes of fans! Support Junko II!

Also, I think I made this offer before, but maybe not on this journal. So let me know if you want a mixi invite. Er, but it's a bit tough to navigate without some basic Japanese, so you'll probably want to know some.

Also. Urgh. Why I don't buy photos off of yahoo!auctions Japan, reason #3: It's just not worth it. Three photos for 1300 yen is outrageous to start with. Add on 400 in fees from Crescent, 200 in fees for the bank transfer, 250 for shipping within Japan.... and I still don't know how much it's going to cost me to get it from Japan to the US, but if Crescent attempts to wrap them in bubble wrap in a box I might do something nasty and unforgivable.

I'm going home to drink a beer.

PS - I cannot believe pregnant!Mami screencaps didn't elicit one squeal of outrage or amusement. You all must be as lazy about commenting as I am these days. ;p

I can't hope to reach the glory and adorableness of arlecchinic's review, so I'll fall back on bullet points. ;D

+ Loved the disco music. Loved the disco dancing (particularly the big group numbers -- I could watch that opening over and over and... oh. I have) and loved Ema Naoki singing a disco medley.+ Loved all silly group songs involving Miki Chigusa+ Kawai Mizuho's shadow solos killed me. Every time. Where has that woman been hiding a voice like that?!+ Loved Ema Naoki just in general, actually. She's so cool, even in a silly-looking afro and genormous glasses.+ Yuzuki Reon was born to play a disco dancer from the 70s.+ Ayaka Rei... woah. Was expecting to like her, but wasn't expecting to end up absolutely loving her and her character.+ Loved Chigu's outfits. *g* Oh lord, there are no words.+ The mini revue finale was love. Dance, dance! And they gave such a lovely number to Chiga Teruko.+ Chie and Hizuki Hana made excellent partners.

- The collars on those leisure suits weren't nearly big enough. ;p- The dialogue got really preachy at times, and I started just fast-forwarding through large chunks. Not really unusual in a Takarazuka show, I know, but just once, just once...- The solo songs, particularly the angsty ones, were a little... boring. More fast disco dancing, please!- The weird bits at the beginning and the end with Dennis Jr. marrying a woman who looks exactly like his mother were... unnecessary. Really.

* Ume. Hm. She managed to make Brenda a likable character, and I particularly liked her "mysterious girl" bits at the beginning. But there was something so very... I don't know. I can't even figure out what exactly it was. Not Hizuki Hana-like enough?* Kazu Ryouka is adorable and love. But Brian is a flat pancake. :/ Still, she's pretty when she angsts over her best friend's girl! I did like that whole bit. They were so cute together.* Chiga-san's speech at the end had me tearing up completely. I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to leave Takarazuka after over forty years.

All in all, I loved it! Hoshigumi underclassmen, if my heart wasn't already won, it is now. See, I knew there was a reason I loved Hoshigumi. <3 Takarazuka, I have reached the firm decision that you need more disco shows.

Hm. I've watched it through twice now, and I'm still not entirely captivated by it. There isn't enough Dancing, you see. Or rather, not nearly enough of Asaji Saki dancing. The play itself isn't bad, and in fact has rather believable and sympathetic characters. The dialogue is all Ueda-sensei, though, with long, uninterrupted sections of conversation where the characters tend to wander off track and leave you wondering just why they need to discuss the price of tea for twenty minutes (Note: I am being terribly unfair to Ueda-sensei. No discussion of tea was abused in the making of this show.) Somehow his style fits better with the material of this show, however, where the philosophizing of the characters and the rising up of the citizens all makes sense.

The detour to Takarazuka is so blatantly mismatched to the rest of the show, and the discussion afterward between Mariko's and Minoru Kou's characters is so odd it's endearing. It is a unique way to fit in the hatsubutai speeches and bowing and things, though.

Hm. Entertaining and cute, with lots of funny scenes and lots of sweet scenes. I liked the show; the musical numbers were catchy and entertaining (that life-jacket song? Priceless). And yet somehow it didn't completely click with me. I guess I'm always expecting to be blown away by sayonara kouen.

Oh, so much love! So very, very much love. Enough echoes of the original Dandyism to make me grin, yet enough completely original things to make this show belong to Hoshigumi. And love, as always, for Sha Tamae's choreography.

Junko was looking wonderful and fashionable. And it drove me mad as I tried to decide if the long hair was all hers or extensions (would she have had enough time to grow it out that long?).

Misa-san remains the coolest Senka member. Her little bit at the end about everyone leaving the theater dancing, and dancing all the way to the Hankyu train station-- but not on the train, please! had me giggling.

Yuri was adorable, but also very talkative and not at all painfully shy like so many musumeyaku seem to get during these group interviews. And I loved how after she did her spiel at the end there was dead silence for a moment before Asuka burst out with a "So cute!"

And Wataru remains.... Wataru. *hearts*

Ahh, so much love for my second favorite troupe. Now I'm torn again as to whether Copacabana should be bought before Ai Suru. I'm a little sad, though, because I can't seem to find any babies there to love madly. In a few more years all of my favorites like Junko and Shii-chan may be retired. T_T

P.S. -- I think Miki-sensei has a crush on Junko. He kept going on and on about how talented and beautiful she is and always has been...

Junko was looking wonderful and fashionable. And it drove me mad as I tried to decide if the long hair was all hers or extensions (would she have had enough time to grow it out that long?).

Misa-san remains the coolest Senka member. Her little bit at the end about everyone leaving the theater dancing, and dancing all the way to the Hankyu train station-- but not on the train, please! had me giggling.

Yuri was adorable, but also very talkative and not at all painfully shy like so many musumeyaku seem to get during these group interviews. And I loved how after she did her spiel at the end there was dead silence for a moment before Asuka burst out with a "So cute!"

And Wataru remains.... Wataru. *hearts*

Ahh, so much love for my second favorite troupe. Now I'm torn again as to whether Copacabana should be bought before Ai Suru. I'm a little sad, though, because I can't seem to find any babies there to love madly. In a few more years all of my favorites like Junko and Shii-chan may be retired. T_T

P.S. -- I think Miki-sensei has a crush on Junko. He kept going on and on about how talented and beautiful she is and always has been...

Yay! Bun-chan being angsty in a sweater! The only thing hotter than Bun-chan being angsty in a sweater is Rika in a half-opened poet's blouse. I didn't think I would get a repeat experience a la Dean, but I was pleasantly surprised.

However... this show is not very good. It had a sense of being thrown together at the last moment -- no particularly impressive dialogue, songs or dancing. Though Otoko (Otowa Ryou) had a cute rendition of an oldies song (the name of which escapes me at the moment), and the song when Junko II (Ema Naoki) was fighting with Itsuki Chihiro also brought a grin to my face. I think this show will probably only be enjoyable if you know and love the actresses in it. Nerdy Son-chan (Akisono Mio) was a treat. I wish she'd had more songs, since I love her voice. Suzumi Shio was so cute she gave me a tooth-ache. Junko... oh god, Junko in a dress again. How does she get away with being a switchable? Itsuki Chihiro was disturbingly attractive at times. I kept having to squint because I couldn't believe it was her.

I have to admit, however, the magic tricks were freakin' awesome. The good old "appearing from no where in a box", a cute one where Otoko got to show off her drawing talents (or lack thereof), and a nifty one which had a musumeyaku balanced on each of Bun-chan's arms.

;_; Rip my heart out, why don'cha? Ah, I've always been a sucker for Aida. I remember going to see the opera performed when I was in junior high; I left the theater crying.

Loved it! Loved it, loved it, loved it! The only thing keeping this show from shooting up to the top portion of my list of favorites... is the appalling musumeyaku choruses. But setting aside the fact that apparently they wrote the songs for the key of "ear-splitting sharp," the rest of the show was marvelous. Even Dan-chan's singing was enjoyable. Ohhh, I love Wataru, and this was a nice role for her -- all manly and noble and angsty. Aran Kei was absolutely amazing! I really can't decide whether I like her better in female roles or male ones. She's just so lovely as an onnayaku, but she's also such a great otokoyaku too... You know, I really wish Wataru wasn't retiring, because then I would storm Hankyu Co. headquarters and demand more Wataru-Touko combi! Their scenes together had me all sniffly.

Ah, Shiomi "Crap Yarouze!" Maho in her final Takarazuka role.... I love her villains! And she looked particularly spiffy in her Ethiopian costume, evily licking her sword like a villain straight from a Japanese comic book. In fact, I loved all of the costumes, but I loved the Ethiopian ones the best. Doesn't hurt that Touko, Kero, Un-chan, and Suzumi all looked so nice in them (and their wigs ruled too).

I think I loved just about every character in this play. Chihiro's Amonasro was so very, very cool (crazy one minute, crafty the next). I had some problems with Ebira Kaoru as Pharaoh, because she is forever burned into my mind as Count Almaviva from Figaro, but she also did a lovely job. Ema Naoki back in a male role, and this woman is giving me whiplash with how fast she switches back and forth... Not enough Shii-chan!

So, two thumbs up, though you may want earplugs for certain scenes....

Thoughts: o.0 Possibly weirder than the Revue Special '98. Takarazuka has given me whole new ways of interpreting GWtW, and I have to admit that Rhett attempting to convince a very, VERY gay Ashley to run away with him has given me a new appreciation for a story I never really enjoyed. ;)

Possibly too many otokoyaku in dresses, if such a thing is possible. A huge crowd of Scarletts including Tom, Taatan, and Wao was a very scary thing. Particularly scary was how nice Anju Mira looked in a dress. Nothing, however, could make Kuze Seika look good in one.

You all know my absolute love for "Night and Day", right? Imagine my delight that there was not one, but two versions of it in this show. One with everyone and their uncle (okay, just Taatan, Rika, Shiokaze, Wao, Zunko, etc...), and one... well. Try to picture it: The staircase lights up. Spotlights fall on Yuri (Amami) and Yoshiko (Asano) in their Rhett and Scarlett Japanese garb (not rich kimonos, mind you, just middle-class). Yuri starts singing "Night and Day", and then the two dance to it, mixing Japanese moves with traditional Takarazuka stairdance poses. I think I fell over laughing at least three times. Tsukigumi, I loooove you!